LIHU‘E — Painting Kaua‘i’s gorgeous tropical plants and magnificent landscapes is what Reggie and Rebecca DeRoos do best. And they’ve been doing it — as a team — for nearly four decades. “We’ve been artists professionally for about 10 years,
LIHU‘E — Painting Kaua‘i’s gorgeous tropical plants and magnificent landscapes is what Reggie and Rebecca DeRoos do best. And they’ve been doing it — as a team — for nearly four decades.
“We’ve been artists professionally for about 10 years, (but) we’ve been painting since the mid-’70s,” Reggie said, adding that he and his wife started going to art shows and fairs after their house became cluttered with their own work.
For the second time in less than a year, the Kalaheo couple is preparing to display and sell their paintings at the Kaua‘i Society of Artists gallery at Kukui Grove Center in Lihu‘e.
Presented by KSA, the “Kaua‘i Paintings” exhibition kicks off Wednesday and runs through April 17. Those interested in meeting the artists are invited to attend an opening reception April 12 from 6 to 8 p.m., which will include refreshments and art giveaways.
The week-long show will feature more than 100 of the couple’s original paintings, some dating back 30 years.
“We have so many (paintings) we don’t know what to do with them,” Reggie said.
Inspired by their island home, the DeRooses offer original paintings — as well as prints — in oil, acrylic and watercolor, featuring landscapes, seascapes, island cabins and a multitude of flowers.
A former high school teacher of architectural drafting, Rebecca enjoys painting old houses and buildings from Kaua‘i’s sugar plantation era. Of course, you would be hard pressed to find a painting by Rebecca that doesn’t feature Kaua‘i’s tropical flowers — her specialty.
As for Reggie, he sticks mainly to painting the land and sea.
“I like anything that has to do with the ocean and mountain scenes,” he said.
In addition to full-size paintings, the couple will be selling hand-painted clocks, postcards, magnets, koa wood boxes and other items.
Regardless of the canvas, Reggie said they are “all Kaua‘i scenes.”
The KSA gallery, located at Kukui Grove Center, is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
For more information about Reggie and Rebecca DeRoos visit www.kauaipaintings.com.
The Kaua‘i Society of Artists is a nonprofit visual arts organization that has provided exhibition and education opportunities to Kaua‘i artists, residents and visitors for more than 25 years. For more information visit www.ksa-art.com.
